NBA Notes

The NBA is going overseas for eight preseason games in October. The Oklahoma City Thunder will open the proceedings by playing Turkish team Fenerbahce on Oct. 5 in Istanbul. The Philadelphia 76ers follow a day later against Uxue Bilbao in Spain. The Thunder and 76ers then meet on Oct. 8 in Manchester, England. The Houston Rockets and Indiana Pacers will meet Oct. 10 in Manila, Philippines, and again Oct. 13 in Taipei, Taiwan. Also in Asia, the Golden State Warriors and Lakers will play each other Oct. 15 in Beijing and then again three days later in Shanghai. In South America, the Chicago Bulls will play the Washington Wizards on Oct. 12 in Rio de Janeiro.

BAREA FOUL REDUCED

The NBA downgraded a Flagrant-2 foul on Minnesota Timberwolves guard J.J. Barea to a Flagrant-1 foul. The Timberwolves announced the decision, one day after Barea was ejected in the fourth quarter against Miami after a foul on guard Ray Allen. Upon reviewing the play, referee Ed Malloy changed it to a Flagrant-2, which brings an automatic ejection.